Hong Kong action film star Cheng Pei-pei has died at age 78.
The Shanghai-born actress – who moved to Hong Kong at 16 years old – died in San Francisco on Wednesday (July 17). Per Variety today (July 19), Cheng had long suffered from a degenerative brain disease and has donated her brain to medical research.
Best known for her high-octane martial arts films, Cheng’s breakout role was in 1966’s Come Drink With Me by director King Hu. She spent the majority of the following decade or so starring in several significant Hong Kong action films — she then stepped out of the spotlight after 1974 when she moved to California to raise her family.
After a handful of roles in the 1980s, she resumed her acting career, starting with 1993’s Flirting Scholar. She would make a cameo in 1994’s Wing Chun, which starred a then-rising Michelle Yeoh. The two would go on to work together on the award-winning 2000 film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, where she played villain Jade Fox.
Having been through the development of Hong Kong cinema since the 1960s, Cheng remembered how it “wasn’t uncommon” for women to take on lead acting roles. “Compared to the male actors, directors were overprotective of us,” she told Time Out Hong Kong in 2015. “But, I didn’t need any special treatment. I’m very proud, and competitive to a fault. I thought, ‘if a man can do it, so can I’.”
In the same interview, she noted how the tides turned during the 1970s – around the same time as her move to California and brief retirement from acting: “Around the time of Ricky Hui, men started taking the lead and women became wallflowers. Audiences gravitated more towards the raw strength of a man.”
Cheng’s last onscreen role was 2020’s live-action Mulan, where she played the minor role of The Matchmaker.
Today, her former co-star Michelle Yeoh shared a few words on Instagram in tribute to Cheng. “Heartfelt condolences to Pei Pei Jie’s family, friends and fans,” Yeoh wrote. “We will miss your kindness and shining talent RIP ”.
Fans and critics also reacted to the news, with many noting her significant contributions to Hong Kong cinema.
“From Golden Sparrow to Jade Fox, the legendary Cheng Pei-pei defined what a swordswoman can be on the big screen,” film programmer Frank Yan wrote.
From Golden Sparrow to Jade Fox, the legendary Cheng Pei-pei defined what a swordswoman can be on the big screen. R.I.P. pic.twitter.com/I5IdotVWIR
— Frank Yan (@FrankYan2) July 19, 2024
See more X (formerly Twitter) reactions below.
Cheng Pei-pei (1946–2024) pic.twitter.com/nKGLcmHPep
— Letterboxd (@letterboxd) July 19, 2024
Rest in peace to the absolutely legendary Cheng Pei-Pei, star of many classic films and a groundbreaking martial arts hero.
She starred in what I consider to be two of the greatest wuxia films of all time: Come Drink with Me and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. pic.twitter.com/6JUESyqzdu
— Will Gish (@wwgish) July 19, 2024
RIP to absolute GIANT Cheng Pei-pei. A legend forever
— Brandon Streussnig (@BrndnStrssng) July 19, 2024
Farewell, Cheng Pei-pei (1946–2024) pic.twitter.com/mB9jKfIWSY
— Dylan Cheung (@Futurhythm) July 19, 2024
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